The weather looks to be the only thing that can thwart Auckland as they put themselves in a dominant position against Otago on the second day of their Plunket Shield cricket match in Auckland today.
The Aces declared their first innings closed at 347 for 8, thanks largely to anunbeaten knock of 109 from wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins, giving them a lead of 284 over Otago who were skittled for just 63 on the first day. Otago were making a better first of it in their second dig and were 79-1 at stumps on the second day, but still 205 runs away from making Auckland bat again.
Auckland will want to wrap things up as quickly as they can with showers and rain forecast for the next two days as they look to keep their hopes alive of making the Plunket Shield final. Auckland sit fourth, 26 points behind leaders Northern Districts, whom they host in the penultimate round next week but within striking distance of both Wellington and Central Districts.
A final-wicket partnership of 68 between New Zealand internationals Jeetan Patel (50) and Andy Mackay (26) saw Wellington get to within sniffing distance of Northern Districts' total of 309 at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.
The hosts were in all sorts of trouble at 215-9 but Mackay and Patel, in particular, who brought up his 50 off 57 balls, gave Northern a few anxious moments.
Northern then edged their way through to 10 without loss from 12 overs at stumps to give themselves an overall lead of 36 runs. Brad Wilson was on three not out and Joseph Yovich on four.
In Nelson, Carl Cachopa continued his rich vein of form with his second hundred in consecutive innings as Central Districts finished on 283-5 in reply to Canterbury's 420-9 declared.
Cachopa's knock of 151 included 18 fours and three sixes before he was finally dismissed by Andrew Ellis. Will Young was still at the crease on 50 not out with Dane Cleaver on two.
Canterbury's declaration came after the dismissal of Tom Latham (145) who had started the day on 116 not out.
